The Nikolsky temple in the city was one of the first and is mentioned in the watch book of the Vyatka voivode Prince Zvenigorodsky in 1615. Initially, it was located in the square, but by 1629 the church was no longer used for services, as it was wooden, dilapidated, and empty.

A stone temple was built in 1732. On a beam behind the iconostasis of the cold church, there was an inscription stating that the church was consecrated on July 9, 1732, by the blessing of Archbishop Alexius of Vyatka and Great Perm, during the reign of Empress Anna Ioannovna. A similar inscription was also on the wooden cross in the altar of the warm church. The church had two altars. The second altar, dedicated to the Nativity of John the Baptist, was consecrated in 1740 by the Most Reverend Benjamin.

On March 14, 1742, a fire destroyed almost all of Slobodskoy, including the Nikolsky church, the old wooden church, and the bell tower. After that, the temple was restored.

In 1894, the church was rebuilt according to the design of architect I.A. Charushin. The work was financed by merchant Pyotr Gavrilovich Onchukov, but he passed away shortly after the decree on the reconstruction was issued. His son Mikhail Petrovich completed his father's work. The reconstruction, including interior finishing, lasted from March 15, 1894, to June 1896. The church became three-altared, with the third altar dedicated to Archangel Michael and Saint Prince Alexander Nevsky.

The temple amazed with its splendor. Marble iconostases were installed in the new chapels, icons were painted on gilded backgrounds, and the windows were adorned with colored glass. Among the venerated icons were those of Saint Nicholas, John the Baptist, and the icons of the holy martyrs Guriy, Samon, and Aviv, before which molebens were often served. All the icons were of ancient writing.

The choir of the Nikolsky church was very popular, created by Mikhail Petrovich Onchukov. Before the revolution, the choir was led by A.F. Antonov, and within the Vyatka diocese, he was considered the best. The repertoire included works by Rachmaninoff, Vargin, and other composers.

In the 1930s, the church was closed, and the bell tower, porch, and domes were destroyed. Since 1932, the building has housed a sports school.

The first service after a long break took place on July 28, 2013, on the day of the Baptism of Rus.